Dao of the World Walker (Xianxia) Book 2

“Oh, good, you’re awake.”

A different elder than the one who had treated him before came and stood at his bedside.

“What happened to me?”, Yang asked. Mostly for clarification, even though he had a pretty good idea what happened.

“You worried a great many people with your stunt, young man,” she gave him an unsympathetic look that left no room for doubt what she thought of his said “stunt”. “And also caused a great deal of damage to the true talisman peak. Many elders of the peak aren’t too pleased with your actions and what it resulted in.”

“Elder, am I in trouble?” Now, Yang grew worried, as he hurried to explain, “I didn’t mean to….” Yang trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence. He had meant to and did absorb energy from the doorway, but it should not have created such trouble for the True Talisman Peak itself.

The elder seemed to have understood his confusion because she finished his train of thought for him, “absorb a spirit mountain’s worth of qi in a few seconds?” She raised an eyebrow at his shocked expression as Yang went entirely still.

“Good, I’d be worried if any disciple did.” She helped him shift into a more comfortable position and passed him a green colored round pill. “Take this. You are barely a cultivator, so the physical resilience of one isn’t afforded to you yet. A week of unconsciousness is not without consequences for someone in your realm.”

“A week?!” Yang choked out, nearly dropping the pill. It felt as though the universe was determined to pelt him with increasingly alarming surprises. Can there not be good news, just once?

“Yes, Disciple Chen Yang, your body needed to heal from the sudden surge of qi. Your survival itself is a great surprise. A second-stage qi condensation cultivator should have never been able to absorb that much qi, let alone survive the process.”

“Elder, a spirit mountain’s worth of qi?, I thought it was some kind of formation, and my idea was to absorb the energy out of it instead,” Yang explained

“That may well have worked,” she said thoughtfully, “if it had been a formation with a limited supply of qi, but no, the doorways were actually powered by a precious artifact of the talisman peak that you drained dry.”

Yang winced at the dry look she shot him before bringing himself to ask the important question. 

“Will I be punished?” 

“That is for the Sect Master to decide,” she explained. “I will be sending him a message to inform him of your condition, so you’d best prepare yourself to face the Sect Master.”

Yang thanked her as she summoned a cup of water, passing it to him, and watched as she left the infirmary without further comment.

He looked at the cup of water in his hand as a little water spilled on him and realized how tightly he had been holding the cup.

He didn’t think that the sect would be cruel in its punishment. Everything he had noticed in his time here in the White Cloud Sect pointed towards a sect that dealt fairly with all its disciples. But that doesn’t remove the glaring fact that he had apparently drained dry a significant treasure of one of the peaks and caused an accident during a competition, even though he was the only casualty of the event. 

He did not want to leave the sect.

This time, since he had joined the sect, had been the most enjoyable period of his life since Grandpa died. He had been happy since coming here, being able to learn as he pleased without any worry for his safety, surrounded by people who treated him well and supported him. He can’t imagine not being part of the White Cloud Sect.

He took a few deep breaths and drank the cup of water, placing it aside as he settled in waiting for the sect master or whoever else would be deciding his fate to arrive.

He looked at the door every few minutes, and he didn’t know how long it took before the door was pushed open wide and a group of people came in. 

At the centre of them was the elder Yang, recognized from his first day, the one who had received the new disciples when they had arrived by boat.

The Sect master. He was followed by elders all wearing serious and composed expressions.

This was the Sect Master, the highest person in the sect hierarchy. Yang realized he was still in bed and tried to get off to stand properly to pay his respects. But before his feet could even touch the floor, the Sect Master raised a single, elegant hand in a gentle stopping motion.

Yang froze, settling for bowing his head as deeply as his seated position allowed.

”Disciple Chen Yang greets the Sect Master and the elders.”

One of the elders behind the Sect Master appeared to be about to speak, but the Sect Master glanced at him from the corner of his eye, and the elder closed his mouth without producing a sound.

The Sect Master was quiet for a moment as he looked him over. “Disciple Chen Yang, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, Sect Master, I am sorry for the trouble I caused.” 

Yang meant it and thought it best to get the apology out of the way before, so they would know how sorry he was. If he had known his talisman would bring him to this point, he would have rather thrown himself against the barrier repeatedly to break it before even thinking of trying his custom qi vacuum talisman,

The sect master regarded him with a measured look before stating calmly, “We have examined your talismans, as they surprisingly weren’t destroyed at channeling that amount of qi. I must commend you on your ingenuity.” The corner of one side of his lip lifted as he gestured towards one of the elders behind him. “Even Peak Master Zheng Yi of True Talisman Peak was impressed by your talisman.” 

Yang noticed one of the other elders produce a brief sour expression before schooling his face back to bored neutrality as the Sect Master continued. “Your approach would have worked exactly as you intended if only it had been a simple formation you were against.”

The calmness in the Sect master’s voice had settled much of the panic and worry in Yang’s chest. They were not angry. Or at least not visibly angry.

Yang looked up at the Sect Master, uncertain what to say. 

The Sect master must have understood his dilemma as he gave a gentle smile. “Disciple Chen Yang, you did not break any rules. The accident and any loss that followed were the result of insufficient security measures on the elders part. The responsibility for what happened sits with us not you.”

Yang let out a slightly relieved breath as the sect master continued, “And I must congratulate you on ascending to the fourth stage of qi condensation realm directly from the second stage.” 

At Yang’s dumbfounded expression, the Sect Master added, “I see no one has told you yet, then I am glad to be the bearer of this good news.”

This was too much for Yang’s brain to handle right now, so he didn’t dwell on it. Still feeling the relief of getting away without any punishment.

Yang was glad to see that the sect master, instead of one of those overly strict people, was rather a calm and dignified person. Clearly thinking things through and making wise decisions. 

Though looking at the strict four-man entourage standing perfectly straight behind the leader, Yang couldn’t help but wonder if having a personal hype-squad was a mandatory requirement of the job description. This was the second time he’d seen the Sect Master, and both times the man had arrived with a perfectly synchronized escort.

Yang was brought out of his musing as the Sect Master said. “You must be wondering about the presence of these elders.”

“Come forth, and explain to the disciple.” The Sect Master tilted his head slightly as two of the elders, one of them the elder of the True Talisman Peak, and the one who didn’t seem to like the Peak Master, came forward

The Peak Master was the first to speak in a dignified voice, his expression solemn. “Young Disciple Chen Yang. You caused considerable disruption to my peak, interrupting an important event, forcing my elders to scramble to replan several of the talisman events entirely. However,” he paused. “There is no doubt that your talent in talisman crafting is worthy of recognition and nurturing. As a cultivator holding the honorable position of the Peak Master of the most illustrious True Talisman Peak, it is my duty to ensure any promising seed in the White Cloud sect is given a chance to achieve their full potential.” 

Yang’s eyes kept widening as the Peak Master kept going on, pretty sure where this was going as he waited with bated breath for the Peak Master to get to the point, but before he could do so, he was interrupted as the other elder got closer to Yang’s bedside.

The second elder looked down at Yang, his expression entirely deadpan.

“I am your Master.”